How I Chose My Residency

Happy Monday, and welcome to Medical Mondays! I wrote a joke post about how I was choosing my residency a couple months back, and since I revealed where I’m going for residency last week, here’s the breakdown of how I chose my residency (aka the criteria I used to find residency programs to apply to)!

Residency Match

This was hanging on the wall in the resident lounge at my last audition rotation–it was kinda weird having myself staring down at me every morning, hahaha.

It’s funny how you can have a whole set list of everything you think you want, but then what you actually end up falling in love with is completely different (but still has all the things that you care about most!). Come to think of it, this probably applies to people as well.

Unopposed

I originally thought I wanted a program where Family Medicine would be the only residency there, but…I made a couple exceptions, and I’m glad I did, or I wouldn’t have applied to this one!

Community-based

Community-based programs are generally more geared toward providing clinical service, which I definitely prefer over research and academia. RWJ was the only university-based program I applied to, and go figure–it ended up being my favorite!

Emphasis on providing care to under-served populations

This was a given–the reason why I went to medical school to begin with was so that I could improve health care for under-served populations!

Community outreach opportunities

Goes hand in hand with under-served care–I love volunteering and giving back, so I wanted to find a place with tons of opportunities in that!

Friendly, supportive learning environment with a family-like atmosphere

I’m a big believer in the “treat others how you’d want to be treated” philosophy, and I wanted a smaller program. This program only accepts 5 residents per class, so I super lucked out (especially if you see the statistics at the bottom…).

Flexibility to explore my interests within family medicine:

One of the billions of reasons as to why I love Family Medicine = there are so many different venues to explore! My favorites outside of preventative health and working with under-served populations included:

  • Community Medicine
  • Sports Medicine
  • Geriatrics
  • Integrative Medicine
  • Global Health/International Medicine

I wanted to find a program that would let their residents tailor their education to what they wanted to incorporate into their practice in the future. RWJ has fellowship tracks in all of these and then some. :]

Location

I was lucky in the sense that I could essentially go anywhere. Since I have no spouse to consider job options for or kids to drag around the country with me, I went by how much I liked the program more so than location (although it still had to be a state I wouldn’t mind living in)!

The Match

Back in September, I received an email from the program I’m going to be going to (read all about Match Day 2016!) telling me that they’d already received over 900 applications and only planned to interview ~50 people. She said the core faculty was impressed with my application, but were wondering about my sincerity in applying, given my almost complete lack of ties to New Jersey.

The night before my interview was a little chaotic–my two flights were delayed (things that happen when you schedule 4 interviews in 3 states over 3 days) and I couldn’t tell the hotel I’d be late because I was too busy chasing down the next plane. When I finally got there at 11:30 p.m., I found out they’d given my room away, and were fully booked for the night.

They eventually found me a room in a neighboring town and I got settled in there by 2:30 a.m. I’d meant to make it to the (optional) morning rounds, but got hopelessly lost in the hospital (if only I’d known that the hospital has its own app in case you get lost?! I kid you not!) In any case, I ended up almost sitting in on General Surgery interviews (…), but thankfully, it all turned out okay!

My interviewers were absolutely amazing, and really sold the program for me–the former program director had clearly looked extensively through my file and spent her interview time with me telling me about all the opportunities I’d have to pursue every part of FM that I’d stated I was interested in. (I can’t wait to work with her!! So excited! <3) Quotes #2, 3, 6, 8 and 10 were from this program!

Out of 950+ applicants, they gave a closer look to ~200 applications, and out of those, they chose 50 people to interview for 5 spots.

To say that I feel incredibly lucky would be the understatement of the century. <3


  • Would you be weirded out about having your own face staring down at you every day?
  • Tell me about a time that you beat the odds, or went for something even though you never thought you’d get it! (I wasn’t sure if this program would give me the time of day, but I didn’t want to regret anything, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to at least try applying–I’m so glad I did!)

I came up with this design ages ago for our class t-shirt contest! :]
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34 comments

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  1. Aw it sounds like the perfect fit for you, Farrah! And of course thet wanted you (duh!). I ended up in a program I’d never considered until I came for elective and it just felt right (in a “the wand chooses the wizard, Harry” sort of way haha). Anyways, congrats!! Can’t wait to read about your residency adventures :)

    1. Haha, I definitely felt like it was a sorting hat type of moment as well! It just felt right! I’m glad you ended up at a program that was right for you! I had my doubts about the match process, but super glad that it does seem to work out!! :D

    • Ricardo on March 28, 2016 at 12:18 am
    • Reply

    It’s like looking at a mirror, right? The person that you want (or should) be is looking back at you to live that dream.

    Spinal meningitis is probably the biggest thing I had to beat. Since then, I kinda always like an underdog because of the lasting effects, heh.

    1. Yes indeed!! :D That’s what I like to attempt to strive for, hehe.

      Holy crud, I don’t think I ever knew about that. Crazy props to you–that is definitely no joke! o_o

  2. I spent the weekend with my niece who just chose hers as well and it was so fascinating to learn why and all about the interview process from her, too.
    It had always been so….mysterious to me how it worked!
    CARLA recently posted…Do we have a happiness set point?My Profile

    1. That’s awesome! It’s definitely a pretty crazy and hectic process, but hooray for it being over and done with! :D

  3. Congratulations! I’m pretty sure they got lucky too! Sometimes I think things are just meant to be – this sounds like one of them.
    Coco recently posted…Seizing The DayMy Profile

    1. I agree! It really felt like it was meant to be! :D!

  4. I’m excited by reading your post, Farrah!
    It feels great when we overcome the hardest obstacles to achieve our dreams. They become extra special.
    I’m truly glad for you.
    I’m already looking forward your posts on your progress. :)

    1. Agreed! Thank you so much, and I definitely agree! <3 I really hope I'll still be able to keep up with posts! :]!

  5. All that crazy travel and it all worked out in the end! So happy for you. You deserve it!
    Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Easter Weekend 2016 Photo DumpMy Profile

    1. Thanks so much, Julie! I’m so glad all the crazy travels are pretty much over!

  6. Congrats again!

    1. Thanks so much, Alyssa! <3!

  7. It’s sorority rush, but crazy. On all levels. I am just so happy for you!
    Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…A Speedbump on the Autobahn (Weekend Recap)My Profile

    1. Hahaha, for serious! I’m so glad it worked out!

  8. Congrats, missy! I’m so happy for you!

    1. Thanks so much, Tiffany! :D!!

  9. Love this post! Ironically, a lot of what you mentioned is exactly what I look for with any job or change I looking to make. I think it is so awesome you went after this and got it.
    I can relate to this (although in a non medical way) with something I am going to be doing, sometimes you just have to believe in yourself and just go for it because you never know what might happen!
    Kristy @Runaway Bridal Planner recently posted…First Weight Loss Goal Achieved and a lot AccomplishedMy Profile

    1. Agreed! You’ll never know until you try! I hope what you’re going for works out really well for you! Can’t wait to hear about it later on, and sending you lots of good thoughts!

  10. Reading about your journey is so interesting! It definitely sounds like you found the perfect fit for you in the end! Yay!
    Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Healthy Taco SpaghettiMy Profile

    1. Thanks so much! I felt like it was a perfect match too! :D
      Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: April 2016My Profile

  11. Sounds like a pretty awesome fit for you!!! I can’t wait to hear all about this new chapter!
    Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Shaved Purple Asparagus & Asian Vegetable Soba NoodlesMy Profile

    1. Me too! It should be a challenging but fun three years!

  12. Congrats, I’m so happy for you! And I know you feel lucky, but it wasn’t luck at all. You earned it and you should be so proud of yourself :)
    Sonali- The Foodie Physician recently posted…Dining with the Doc: Wild Greens & Quinoa Grain BowlMy Profile

    1. Aww, thanks so much, Sonali! <3! I'm a combination of happy, proud, and feeling blessed! :]!

  13. your hard work and passion has paid off dear!! you have worked hard for it and you earned this residency :) soon happy for you.
    dixya @ food,pleasure, and health recently posted…5 Things You Can Do With Chickpeas + GiveawayMy Profile

    1. Thank you so much, Dixya!!! <3!

  14. I am a big believer in the fact that everything happens for a reason. I don’t think luck had anything to do with you getting into the program – it was where you were meant to be! The biggest thing I’ve ever “overcome” was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2012. People always ask me when I knew I was going to finish the entire trail and I always tell them I had no idea I would finish until I touched the sign on the final mountain. I have my first ever marathon this coming Sunday and I still don’t know what the heck I was thinking… but something tells me it will all work out :)

    1. Aww, thank you! That’s definitely what it felt like to me as well (the “meant to be” feeling)!

      That is definitely an amazing feat! The Appalachian Trail would be so cool to do sometime! I don’t know when I will have spare time in the futureā€¦ But I remain hopeful that I can someday hike it as well!!

      I hope your marathon went well today! :D!!! That’s awesome!

  15. Ahhh I’m so happy for you – and you sound so happy! A million congrats :D

    1. I was so overjoyed when I got the results! Thank you so much!!

  16. This is amazing! Congratulations, Farrah! You totally deserve it!
    Eva / Kid Minds recently posted…Green Pancakes without Artificial ColoringsMy Profile

    1. Thanks so much, Eva! I’m super excited!

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